Forest Dept nets Rs 7.45 lakh in two-month crackdown on illegal mining in Paonta Sahib

The Forest Division, Paonta Sahib, has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining, generating a revenue of Rs 7,45,531 for the government treasury through challans issued against vehicles involved in unauthorised extraction of sand and gravel from rivers and rivulets.

According to official data, the department collected Rs 4,79,928 in December 2025 and Rs 2,65,603 in January 2026 by penalising vehicles engaged in illegal mining activities. The enforcement drive was primarily carried out by field staff who have been conducting regular patrols along the Yamuna and Bata rivers, where such activities are frequently reported.

Despite sustained action, officials said the illegal mining network continues to operate, often using vehicles without registration plates to evade identification. In many cases, tractors and other transport vehicles are found operating without valid number plates, making it difficult to trace ownership and take stringent legal action.

Ved Prakash Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer, (DFO) Paonta Sahib, said the department was committed to curbing illegal mining, but faced procedural limitations. “Our field teams are maintaining strict vigil and issuing challans wherever violations are found. However, many vehicles involved in illegal mining operate without registration plates. While we can act under forest laws, action against such traffic violations falls under the jurisdiction of the police and transport department,” he said.

He further explained that challans were issued on the names of drivers, as the Forest Department does not have authority under the traffic regulations to proceed against unregistered vehicles. “This often allows repeat offenders to escape identification. Strong inter-departmental coordination is essential to effectively dismantle the illegal mining nexus,” Sharma said.

In one recent instance, a tractor-trailer caught extracting material from a riverbed bore the words “Jatt Farrar” in place of a registration number, underscoring the blatant disregard for the traffic norms. Officials expressed concern over such vehicles not only flout mining regulations, but also posing a serious risk in case of road accidents, as tracing them becomes nearly impossible without proper registration details.